Clothes-line fastener and holder.



N0. 637,392. Patented Nov. 2|, I899. E. R. JONES.

CLOTHES LINE FASTENEB AND HOLDER.

(Application filed Apr. 10, 1899.)

(No Model.)

ill

.2 amma- Wiz'inesses UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR R. JONES, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO E. II.L. THOMPSON, OF SAME PLACE.

CLOTHES-LINE FASTENER AND HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,392, dated November21, 1899.

Application filed April 10, 1899.

Be it known that I, EDGAR R. JONES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas ity, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Iniprovement in Olothes-Line Fastenersand Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clothes-line fasteners and holders, and theobject is to produce a device of this character which facilitates andrenders comparatively easy the positioning and tightening of theclothes-line and which reliably obviates all chance of the lineslackening under a washing of any weight which it is practicable to hangthereon.

A further object is the production of a device of this character ofsimple, strong, durable, and inexpensive construction.

To these ends the invention consists in certain novel and peculiarfeatures of construction a nd combinations of parts, as will behereinafter described and claimed, and in order that the invention maybe fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a clothes-linefastener and holder embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a verticalcentral section of the same. Fig. 3 represents a face View of part ofthe device as arranged when securing it in or removing it from operativeposition. Fig. 1 is a horizontal section taken on the line IV IV of Fig.1.

In the said drawings, 1 designates a rectangular metallic block which isadapted to be secured to a post 3 or other surface by means of screws 2or their equivalents, and

- said block is formed centrally near its upper end with a T-shapedprojection comprising a stem 4, cylindrical in form, and a head 5, whichprojects beyond the opposite sides of the stem. This block compriseswhat may be termed the permanent or stationary member of the fastener.

6 designates a metallic block of substantially the same size andconfiguration as block 1 and provided centrally near its upper end withavertical slot 7 of sufficient size for the passage of the head 5,t-hisbeing accomplished Serial No. 712,430. (No model.)

by turning block 6 at right angles to block 1, as shown in Fig. 3, andthen moving it rearward until it strikes block 1, when it may bepermitted to swing pivotally downward upon the stem 4. as a pivotbetween the said block 1 and the head 5, the latter serving to lockblock 6 in its new position and preventing its removal without firstreversing the operation described as necessary to secure it in suchposition.

Vertically below slot 7 block 6 is formed with a guide eye or loop 8 andvertically below the latter in turn with a perforation 9, communicatingat its rear end-with the vertical groove 10 in the rear face of saidblock 6.

11 designates a toothed or roughened bridge which extends transverselyof and projects forward from the face of block 6 near its lower margin,and 12 a pair of vertical grooves in the rear face of said block andnear its side margins, which communicate at their upper ends withperforations 13, extending through the block. When the block swingspivotally downward to its operative position, as shown in Fig. 1, itenters the space between the block 1 and the guide-clip or angle-plate14, which is secured by a screw-bolt 15 or otherwise to block 1 andserves to hold the blocks in a compactpr close relation.

A spring wire or rod is bent at its middle to form the U-shaped arm 16,terminating at its free end in a coil or eye 17, and at opposite ends ofthe arm to form the similar springcoils 18, which underlie block 6, theends of said spring wire or red being anchored seing pressure, so thatwhen released after being sprung outward and downward it will springforcibly back against the face of the block.

In practice before the block 6 is positioned upon block 1 theclothes-line A is threaded IOO through it by first passing the end ofthe line down through the eye or loop 8, then rearward through theperforation 9v and down through the groove 10, then forward through theeye or loop 7 of the spring-arm 16, held depressed until this purpose isaccomplished,

' when it is released,and,springing back against the face of the block,doubles the line up around the lower edge of the block and clamps itfirmly against-the roughened bridge 11. Assuming that the line needstightening after the block 6 is mounted upon block 1, the attendantgrasps the pendent end of the line and by pulling lightly downwardsprings the arm 16 downward and outward to about the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 2, and thereby takes the principal angle out of theline--viz., that formed by bending it up around the lower edge of block6; \Vhen the parts are thus disposed, the operator can withcomparatively little exertion tighten the line by pulling it in thedirection indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2. When tightened sufliciently,it is simply released to permit the arm 16 to spring back to itsoriginal position, and by doubling and clamping the line firmly uparound the lower edge of the block and against the roughened bridgereliably "prevents any slippage of the line due to a heavy weight uponthe same.

When the line is not in use, it is only necessary to swing the block 6to the position shown in Fig. 3, slip it ofi the T-shaped projection ofblock 1, and then use it as a spool on which the line may be wound andremain permanently, the other end of the line of course being detachablyconnected to any other point or support.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced aclothes-line fastener and holder which facilitates and lightens the workof securing the line in position and tightening the same and at the sametime a fastener which is positive and reliable in action, and while Ihave illustratedand described the preferred embodiment of my invention Iwish it to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changesin the detail construction, form, or proportion of its parts as will notbe a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A clothes-line fastener and holder, comprising a block or membersuitably supported, and provided with a perforation and a communicatingpassage or groove, to receive the line, and a spring secured to theblock and provided with a spring-arm having a coil or loop through whichthe line also extends, and

by which the line is clamped firmly against the block, substantially asdescribed.

2. A clothes-line fastener and holder, comprising a block or membersuitably supported, and provided with aperforation and a communicatingpassage, and with a bridge projecting from its face, and a springsecured the block and provided with a coil or'loop through which thelinealso extends, and by which the line is clamped firmly and reliablyagainst said bridge, substantially as described.

3. A clothes-line fastener and holder, comprising a block or membersuitablysupported, provided with a perforation and a communicatingpassage or groove to receive the line, and a spring secured to andunderlying the block and provided with acurved or bent arm bearin gagainst the face of the block and provided at its ends with a coil orloop, through which the line also extends, and by which the line isclamped firmly against the face of the block, substantially asdescribed.

4. A clothes-line fastener and bolder, comprisinga block or membersuitably supported, and provided with a forwardly-projecting eye orloop, a perforation, and a communicating passage or groove to receivethe line, and a spring secured to the block and provided with aspring-arm having a coil or loop through which the line also extends,and by which the line is clamped firmly against the block, substantiallyas described.

5. A clothes-line fastener and bolder, comprising a block suitablysupported and provided with a T-shaped projection, a head for saidprojection extending transversely, and a second block having a lineattached, provided with an elongated opening or slot, through which thestem of said T-shaped projection extends, said slot or opening extendingat an angle to the head of said projection, substantially as described.

6. A clothes-line fastener and holder, com prising a block suitablysupported and provided with a T-shaped projection, a head for saidprojection extending transversely, a second block having a lineattached, provided with an elongated opening or' slot, through which thestem of said T-shaped projection extends, said slot or opening extendingat an

